sword_breaker | Myth!AU

[There's a slight wind to give signs that colder weather was going to hit the city at some point but otherwise the chill didn't faze many much with the sun pouring down rays without any resistance from white wisps streaking across blue. Another busy work day for most people as they packed the sidewalks in order to accomplish whatever the day asked of them to do, some of them heading off towards lunch break even as the afternoon brought along ease in traffic after the rushing around or rather dead still in the morning commutes that always came like clockwork. The towering skyscrapers piercing above while scattered about were busy shops and apartment complexes ranging to the higher end of the spectrum, fortunate for several residents of them being close to where they worked usually.

However it didn't matter much to the man lying face first towards the blue in an alley, red bursts staining his shirt in an act of fatal defiance against the fabric. He wasn't caring about anything anymore. Pools of crimson have congealing into a sticky mess at his side to keep company with the broken body though it was a waste honestly. A barrier of yellow and black tape announcing the crime scene as if the body and the blood weren't enough already to do so. Officers scurrying about to comb through every little thing in order to scrounge up evidence ranging from fingerprints to shell casings while a medical examiner started jotting down notes as though it were a race.

To be fair, it was a race that was ticking away for all of them but yet he didn't exactly have to put so much effort into finding out the who, why and whatnot of this particular case. Never really showed interest in the exact details of a person's death as it wasn't under his job description nor would he if paid enough, more so content enough with the tasks that were scheduled for him to do. He sends a confirmation of his arrival with a quick text before stowing away the smart phone into his back pocket and assessing the fussing police. No doubt Matthieu was going to blow his phone up with messages after getting the answer but that could be ignored.

Passing underneath the tape, the man eased through the scene with no problems coming from the uniformed others. Though that was the point of having such a decent illusion in order to essentially make him invisible, allowing a much easier time accomplishing his tasks without the stupid questions that would be raised at his presence much less what he would do here. He had the slight frown that could've been considered appropriate for the situation but the claw marks and irrevocably damaged right eye would certainly cause a more sinister thought process to occur. Maybe even be considered as a hit man that had down the crime but to be fair he didn't hunt unless told otherwise and certainly not boring humans such as this idiot. Besides a man decked in a suit stood out in this mess with much help to his disregard of everything save for the dead man who certainly was still brimming with the confused energy of a trapped soul. Definitely need to rectify that.

James crouched down right next to the examiner and fished out a knife before making an incision right at the heart before reaching down to draw out the reluctant soul. The reaper was only doing his job and besides no one was going to see him do his work, not the police nor the surrounding crowd of onlookers.

He was looking forward to the break after this one, sneak away towards his usual haunt; a coffee shop that boasted fantastic blends that were more so a necessity at this rate rather than a mere commodity and plus the perfect spot he claimed by the window in order to watch the world keep moving. The energy from the illusion would be easily restored during that. Then it would be another one in midtown before being able to return back home for the day and unwind. That or check with the bar to make sure a friend or two didn't snoop around more than they should. The former was going to be the most probable though so he shows the other idea to the back of his mind before focusing.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's the middle of a cutscene and should be enough time for him to flash over a smirk at Liam, carding his fingers through the dullahan's hair for a moment. The idiots can joke all they want but he was sincere in his answer.]

I'll start listening to you two blabbing when you catch up in points.

Doesn't help if you kill steal. That or have all of the power weapons.

[Someone might be a tad bitter. Not because of the game either.]

Just because you can't remember where they are doesn't mean it's cheating, Shade.

[Not that Andrei is nearly as good with them as James is, but he does his best.]

Besides you don't need them if you know how to chain your kills or hit the crit spots. Head shots on high priority targets give the most points after all.

[The next part is going and James is back to focusing on the game, content with the dullahan curled up into him. It was louder and more people than he hoped for the day but it was working out.]

I know.

[Its one the verge of being a snap but he winds up keeping a majority of his frustration to himself. He wasn't angry at the game. No it was that asshole who was ready to kill his friend and now stealing his best one.]

Easy for you to say, James.

[Let's see if he can remember where all the critical points are. It's been awhile, but things are coming back pretty quickly.]

We're just glad you're on our team.

I can team kill but that takes away points.

[He finishes up the final enemy before watching as the mission stat screen rolls into view. Top of the leaderboard in both kills and points. Same old, same old.]

[Alright look at that. He can play nice and all that crap but now there's nothing distracting him away from how Liam was soaking up all of James's attention. There was so much wrong with that because he wasn't going through another close call.

But what can he do? Zilch. His opinion didn't matter.

So he tosses the controller onto the couch and takes refuge in the kitchen. He can use the excuse of a drink or something.]

Nice shot.

[Oh. Uh. Shade, the drinks are on the table...

Give him a minute and he'll come around? Maybe?]

[Oh shit, now what's going on? He'd thought that things were going okay, so this is definitely a new development. He pulls himself up to sitting, furrowing his brows in the direction that Shade had stormed off in.]

..guessing that's not normal?

No.

[He places the controller on the side of couch before rolling up onto his feet, setting his sight on the kitchen. Something was up with the banshee and hopefully he won't get pushed away.

The idiot is pressed against the fridge, tapping away at his phone.]

What the hell is your problem?

I....it's nothing. I just wanted to get a drink or whatever. Yea.

[Mind James he never looked up from his phone's screen. How was he supposed to tell his friend that he was jealous of his boyfriend?]

[And now he's alone with the dullahan.

um.

He picks up James's controller and offers it to Liam.]

Want to give it a try?

[Alright, now everything is weird. Not that it wasn't weird before, but now it's extra weird. Really extra weird. He has to stare at the shapeshifter for a moment, try to determine if he's being sincere or not, but then he shifts on the couch and nods slowly as he takes the thing.]

...sure.

[He stares long and hard at the banshee. Shade was avoiding looking at him. So much for just a drink.]

Cut the shit. What is it?

I ugh...

[Quick glance up. Yea he was caught. Crap.]

I don't know if it's wise that you date another one. A blacklister. We both know what happened last time and she started out just as nice and all. I don't want to lose you. And I'm also kind of stressing because there's this guy who wants to meet too and I'm afraid.

I just...there's a lot happening. I don't know what to say to him or to Liam that won't make me public enemy number one for them, ok? There. Happy?

[Things are weird, but he's trying his hardest to make them not weird. He shows the dullahan each of the buttons on the controller.]

So you use this one to move your character and this one to move your character. This one shoots, this reloads, and this switches your weapon. You start with a pistol and a rifle, and you hit this button to pick up new ones if you find them. Uh. This is your melee, and this throws grenades. Oh, and you can duck and jump with these.

[He calls up the opening level and takes it off legendary. Not just for Liam's sake, either--he doesn't want to do this difficulty without James.]

[Definitely weird. Definitely definitely weird. And he does his best to follow what Andrei is saying, but it's all weird too. Okay, maybe he's a little out of the loop with entertainment technology.]

Uhhh...yeah. Got it. Totally got it.

[He so doesn't have it.]

[For a moment, everything falls quiet between the two of them. It made sense. Shade was afraid of losing their partnership. After everything...

But he wasn't going to have fear hold them back.]

I'm ready for a second chance. If things get too rough, I'll end it. For now he is and for the future my boyfriend so relax and be respectful.

This other guy though, take him out for a drink or something. If it doesn't work, it doesn't. Alright?

...ok. I...I'll be in here for a bit longer. To finish up this texts and all.

[That and to straighten himself up before being front line and center for the other two.]

[It's okay. The first level will have a bit of a tutorial. Andrei loads in, letting Liam choose Master Chief. They'll do that at this pace.

Here they go.]

[Here they go indeed. Although he can definitely appreciate the aesthetic of the characters. Lots of armor and guns? Okay that's pretty cool.]

[Leaving the banshee to settle back down and to his phone, the reaper strides behind the couch but not before reaching over to grab a drink from it. He plops back down next to Liam and wraps and arm around his waist. So far they were managing fine.]

[Shade drags his hand down his face before staring back down at his phone. The dumb lil lizard emoticon next to the number underneath a waiting finger.]

I can do this. I got this. Totally do. Just drinks yea.

[He hits the option for text and sends over a question about hitting up a bar or café or something. Options, gotta have options.]

[Andrei looks back at James just long enough to smile. Look. He's trying. See?

Maybe they'll even make it through the first level without getting slaughtered.]